No jail for man who left his 97yo father lying in his own blood in assault case described as “tragic”

A “big softie” who assaulted his elderly father before going to bed, leaving the 97-year old lying in blood and broken glass, has been spared an immediate prison term.

Andrew Dowdell

The AdvertiserFebruary 20, 20199:17pm

A man who brutally bashed his 97-year-old father before going to bed — leaving his dad in a pool of blood and broken glass — has been spared jail.

District Court judge Jane Schammer said Mark Carlisle Stevens’ assault was “quite tragic” and out of character for the 66-year old.

After drinking a bottle of wine, Stevens lost his temper during an argument with his father over the use of an airconditioner at their Glen Osmond home in January 2018.

The court heard Stevens began throwing furniture around the house striking his father, who suffered a broken nose, fractured ribs, lacerations and bruises to his face.

Stevens went to bed and left his stricken father lying on the floor until the next morning.

“It seems likely that you panicked after the incident as instead of calling for help you went to bed, leaving your father lying on the floor, bleeding and surrounded by fragments of glass and broken furniture,” Judge Schammer said.

After Stevens could not contact his sister, he told his neighbour “that the house was all smashed up and that you had beaten your dad up”, Judge Schammer said.

The elderly victim was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital and spent several days in intensive care. He died a month later from heart failure.

Judge Schammer said Stevens had moved in with his parents the previous year and had drank to excess after the death of his mother in September 2017, aged 101.

“Although you have described acting as a parent for your parents it seems likely, despite their age, your parents were doing their best to also care for you,” she said.

Stevens, who the court heard may be suffering early dementia, had a prior conviction for threatening police with a knife in 1991.

A psychiatrist described Stevens’ angry outburst as “very much out of character” and considered him as a low risk of reoffending.

“Your neighbour describes you as ‘a big softie’ and had never seen you display anger before,” Judge Schammer said.

“You have the ongoing love and support of your sister who has described you as usually being both loving and gentle. There is no history of you ever using illicit drugs.”

Judge Schammer suspended Stevens’ prison term of two years and almost 10 months to allow him to remain living at a supportive facility.